The Grape Report # 1

by Scott(edited version)
Sunday July 27, 2008 8:13 AM

It was another Saturday at sandyland vineyard for John, Trish, Leon and myself, the others arrived at 7 a.m. while I rolled in at 11ish after doing a bit of work in A-town, gotta make a bit of "walkin around money" (as Bryce would say).......John sprayed the middles with more toxic chemicals, Leon pulled and hoed weeds, and Trish pruned and tied the 2007 vines, or at least they said they did, when I arrived they were sitting in the airconditioned shop.....Trish and I counted the dead loss of the 2008 crop, 168( or was it 186?) of the 1200 have died due to drought, scarab beetles or possibly poor planting techniques, we are not sure, anyway that fiqures to about 15.6 % of the 2008 crop. John fired up the weedeater and worked around the new plants to give them a bit more sunlight while Leon picked up the hoe again.Then we we went to the shop and discussed what needed to be done this fall and winter....In about a month or so the plants will be finished growing but we need to be ready for next year.

1. The top double wire system needs to be installed.

2. More steel posts need to be cememnted in place on the hills of rows 1-16(very important)

3. String more wire in the 2008 crop.

4. Gather cow poo for a compost pile for next year's "homemade fertilizer"

5. Burn old canes-insects and disease can hide in them.

6.-100. (John can come up with more I'm sure.)

This is the first Grape Report that will be chock full of interesting facts concerning grapes and vineyards, soon your brain will be full of ineresting facts/fiqures that you can impress your friends and co-workers with and use on your next visit to Sandyland Vineyard.